Ratchet wrench having a magnetized sectional socket



Aug. 10, 1948. o. MATSON 2,446,776

RATCHET WRENCH HAVING A MAGNETIZED' SECTIONAL SOCKET Filed July 25, 1944 A T TORNEY Faienied Aug. 1948 OFFICE RATCHET WRENCH HAVING A MAGNE- TIZED SECTIONAL SOCKET '0lof Matson, 'Hatboro, Pa.

Application-July 25, 1944, Serial No. 546,471

2 Claims.

The object of this invention is to devise a novel ratchet wrench which can be economically manufactured, and which can be used in places having a minimum of clearance for the swinging movements of the wrench.

A further object of the invention is to devise a novel sectional casing having relatively movable head sections provided with a novel rotatable socket, and having novel means for locking releasing the head sections.

It further comprehends novelpawl mechanism for actuating the socket.

Other novel features of construction and advantage will hereinafter appear in the detailed description and the appended claims.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, I have shown in the accompanying drawings preferred embodiments thereof which I have found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results. It is, however, to be understood that these embodiments are typical only and that the various instrumentalities of which the invention consists can be variously arranged and organized and the invention is not limited to the exact arrangenient and organization of these instrumentalities as herein disclosed.

Figure 1 is a plan view of a ratchet wrench embodying the invention, with the cover removed.

Figure 2 is a plan view showing the wrench in its open position.

Figure 3 is a section on line 3--3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a plan View of another embodiment of the invention, the figure being partly broken away.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings:

The casing of the ratchet wrench seen in Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4 is of sectional construction. Referring now to these figures, l designates a chambered body portion having at its forward end a head section 2 which is relatively stationary. 3 is a movable head section pivoted at 4 within the body portion and having a tension spring 5, one end of which is fixed to the rear end of the movable head section 3, and the other end of which is fixed to the body portion. A side wall of the head section l is cut out as at 6 to provide for relative movement of the head sections. Provision is made for locking the head sections in their closed position, and when the locking mechanism is released the movable head section automatically moves into its open position.

Cover sections '5 and 8 are secured in position by fastening devices 9 and Ill respectively.

The head section 3 has an L-shaped slot II and the cover section 8 has a similar slot l2 in which a locking member I3 is slidable, the looking members as shown being in the form of a rod or pin. The locking member is tensioned by a spring '54, one end of which is fixed to said member, and the other end is connected with the .pivot d. The locking member cooperates with a stationary hook l5 having an inclined face it at its end. The hook I5 is part of a block t? fixed to the body portion I,for example by welding. The block H carries a spring pressed ball is which forms an abutment for the toe 1-9 of e-double pawl 28 having pawl members 21 and 22 which cooperate with the teeth 23 of a sectional socket 25 having a polygonal opening 25. The socket '24 has on opposite sides annular grooves 25 to receive-inturned annular flanges 21 on the stationary head section and the cover section 3. The socket also has at opposite sides collars 8 which have a bearing in the stationary head section 2 and the cover 8, such parts being apertured to receive them. The pawl 20 has a handle 29 for adjusting its position for a right or left movement of the socket.

The juxtaposed ends of two socket sections in a head section are preferably magnetized so that they will stay together. In Figure 1 the socket is shown as consisting of four segments, while in Figure 4 the socket is cut off center to form two segments SE? and 35 with the larger segments retained in the stationary head section 2.

When the wrench is to be applied to a part to be turned the movable head section is in its open position if it is to be moved towards such part. To close the movable head section, the latter is moved towards the fixed head section. The locking member l3 rides up the inclined face It of the hook I5 against the tension of the spring M and snaps over the hook to retain the head sections in closed and locked position. If the movable head section is to be opened, the operator slides the locking member rearwardly to disengage the hook and the spring 5 automatically moves the movable head section into its open position.

The pawl arrangement provides for continuous turning of the socket.

The flange extending into the annular groove in a socket has the function of retaining the socket section or sections assembled with the head sections during the opening or closing of the head sections. This flange is not necessarily continuous but may be interrupted.

The wrench can be used as a fixed wrench, and automatically opens when the lock is released so that it can be applied directly to a pipe to surround it and does not have to be slipped over the end of the pipe, tubing or the like, By moving the movable wrench section towards the fixed section, the wrench is looked around the pipe or tubing.

The cover can be fastened to the casing in any desired or conventional manner and in some cases would be welded to the body portion of the casing.

My present invention is especially adapted to be used on tubing and fitting where there is little clearance for the swinging movement of the wrench since a continuous tooth by tooth rotation of the socket is provided even if the socket has a slot.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a ratchet wrench, a casing forming a grasping portion and having a head consisting of a stationary and a movable section, an annular sectional socket rotatably mounted in said sections, pawl mechanism to turn said socket, a spring tending to move said movable section into its open position, a spring-tensioned locking member movably carried by said movable section and adapted to be actuated to looking position by the hand engaging said grasping portion, and a hook on said stationary section and engaged by said locking member to retain said movable section in its closed and locked position, said socket having two sections in each head section with the juxtaposed ends of the two socket sections magnetized to retain them together.

2. In a ratchet wrench, a casing having a stationary and a movable section, the movable secside Wall of the stationary section and pivoted in the stationary section, a spring connected with the stationary section and said extension and tending to open the movable section, an annular sectional socket mounted for rotation in said sections and having teeth at its periphery, a double pawl cooperating with said teeth, a resilient abutment for said pawl, a locking member slidably mounted in said movable section, a hook on the stationary section, and a spring tending to move said locking member in the direction of said hook.

- OLOF MATSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 341,986 Alapaw May 18, 1886 619,193 Lemley Feb. '7, 1899 763,105 Morrison June 21, 1904 921,290 Shelburne May 11, 1909 1,060,185 Hitt Apr. 29, 1913 1,258,381 Webb Mar. 5, 1918 1,314,964 Kennedy Sept. 2, 1919 1,414,949 Hellem May 2, 1922 1,955,727 Adams Apr. 24, 1934 tion having an extension extending through a 

